The objective of this RFP is to oversee a competitive process to award funds to the most promising and competitive renewable energy or energy efficiency opportunities. To date, NIREC has launched two previous RFPs and has funded proposals submitted by our Research Partners and by two early-stage companies. NIREC awarded funding and services to 23% of the applicants to the first RFP (launched summer 2008), and 17% of the applicants responding to the second RFP (launched spring 2009).